New Patterns for Worship (paperback) (Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England)

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The chance to let members of the congregation speak of their experiences and their faith can be an excellent way of connecting the worship to the rest of life, and can especially help visitors to see how our faith is worked out in practice. Before the sermon (or as part of it) it might be possible and appropriate to include such an element of ‘testimony’. This might include, for instance: St Ann’s Evening Praise replaced Evening Prayer some years ago when people were looking for something much freer in their worship. The service this evening includes some teaching in preparation for an evangelistic event in a few weeks’ time, and is punctuated at intervals by one of the acclamations: This shows a possible structure for a service in which the ‘talk’ (in whatever form it takes) is divided into three short sections, one in each of the three main sections of the service. Harvest Greeting Begin to plan the sermon. If the preacher is not part of the planning group, it is important to know the main drift of the sermon so that other items in the service support rather than conflict with this part of the Word. Does it need one ‘slot’ or more? Note 7 to A Service of the Word ( here) gives a new interpretation to the word ‘sermon’ which ‘includes less formal exposition, the use of drama, interviews, discussion, audio-visuals and the insertion of hymns or other sections of the service between parts of the sermon’. 4 Prayer

This refrain may be used at the beginning and end of the canticle and, in addition, between verses or groups of verses.

Blessings

They may also be used as a proper preface in the Eucharistic Prayer: in this case, the introduction ‘Father, we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord’ should be used only where indicated. Children in the church school at St Bartholomew’s have been learning this week how to write collects. They have used a very simple formula (see here) which shows them how to take a verse of Scripture, thank God for something about himself and then pray for something connected with that aspect of God’s character. The teacher hopes it will help them in making up their own prayers at home (and the vicar secretly thinks some of the adults would find this a help too!). He recently preached on the prayer of the believers in Acts 4.24-31, pointing out how many lines of the prayer were taken up with telling God how great he was and what he had done, using that as the reason why God should take notice of their request, which was to result in ‘wonders and miracles … through the name of Jesus’. Compare this with the pattern in the ‘Collect construction’ section here. Four of the children’s collects are going to be used in the worship this month. Because a service like this might not be the principal service of the day, and might well not take place on a Sunday, an Affirmation of Faith is not required and has not been included, though a point in the service at which it might appropriately come has been indicated. Facing Pain: a Service of Lament What psalms, Scripture, songs or canticles are to be used? Begin to think about music resources and preparation. See here (Psalms) and here (Music).

If you intend to give symbolic gifts (or cards) to fathers, this might appropriately happen at the end of the prayers of intercession. This element of the service needs to be conducted with sensitivity. Music might be played or a hymn or song be sung while this takes place. Fathers present might be asked to stand during the prayer, ‘Heavenly Father, you entrusted your Son Jesus …’. A Service for Fathers’ Day DO discover the main theme of the service: is it based on the readings, the season or day? Ask the preacher if there is something specific to pray for if the prayers follow the preaching. It is important that this element of the service is conducted with sensitivity towards those present who do not have children.Those who will be ministering to individuals should be offered appropriate help in preparing for this. Before the service it is normally appropriate for them to pray together for grace and discernment. DO remember what was prayed for last week: should there be thanksgiving for prayer being answered? What other thanksgiving should there be? Again, as Note 15 says, ‘intercession frequently arises out of thanksgiving’. The service moves towards a climax at the Peace. This needs careful introduction, perhaps focusing on that unity in Christian fellowship, because of what Christ has done for us, of which St Paul speaks in the introductory words. People should also be encouraged to greet one another in whatever way is most natural and comfortable for them – and for those they are greeting! The more adventurous worship planners might want to provide some symbol – coloured paper hearts, or flowers, for example, which members of the congregation might give to one another as reminders of the love and generosity of God. If appropriate, and possible, something that symbolizes the event might be brought in and placed on or near the Holy Table, or in some other appropriate place, during the opening hymn.